Is it safe to send a deposit before viewing a rental property?
Sending a deposit before viewing a property in person is one of the clearest warning signs of rental fraud. Legitimate landlords and agents will always allow viewing before taking a financial commitment.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Rental scams work by presenting a highly attractive listing — often taken from a genuine property site without permission — at a below-market price. The fraudster, posing as a landlord or agent, creates urgency by claiming multiple interested parties and insists on a deposit or first month's rent to 'secure' the property. Once the money is sent, they vanish and the property either does not exist as described or belongs to someone else entirely.
The request to pay before viewing is the central trap. Genuine landlords and estate agents have a financial and legal interest in renting to a reliable tenant and will always facilitate a viewing. A landlord who claims to be abroad, ill, or otherwise unable to arrange a viewing while simultaneously taking your money should never be trusted.
Video call 'viewings' are not a safe substitute. Fraudsters can show recorded footage of someone else's property and pose as the owner. If you cannot visit the property in person, ask a trusted friend or family member to view it on your behalf before any money changes hands.
Always verify that the person requesting the deposit has a legal right to rent the property. Ask for proof of ownership (Land Registry title in England, for example) or a legitimate agency agreement. Cross-check the agent's details against the relevant professional body register.
Common red flags
- Landlord or agent requests a deposit or holding fee before you have viewed the property
- Rental price is significantly below comparable properties in the same area
- Landlord claims to be overseas or unavailable for an in-person viewing
- Communication is exclusively via messaging apps rather than a professional email or agency system
- Listing photos appear on multiple other sites under different addresses or landlord names
- Urgency is created — other applicants are waiting, offer expires today
What to do now
- Never send money — including a holding deposit or admin fee — before viewing a property in person
- Reverse-image-search the listing photos to check if they appear on other sites
- Verify the agent or landlord against an accreditation register or the Land Registry
- If you have already sent money and suspect fraud, report to your bank immediately and to your national fraud reporting service
- Report the fraudulent listing to the platform it appeared on
- File a police report — a reference number may help with bank recovery efforts
Frequently asked questions
Is it ever acceptable to pay a small holding deposit before viewing?
In some markets a small, refundable holding deposit to temporarily pause viewings is accepted practice, but only after you have already viewed the property. Any request for money before any viewing should be refused.
What if the property looks legitimate and the landlord has positive reviews?
Reviews can be fabricated and profiles can be cloned from legitimate landlords. Always conduct an independent identity and ownership check, and still view in person regardless of how convincing the listing appears.